India’s para-athletes have made a spectacular start at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, combining podium finishes with record-breaking performances. Shooter Mona Agarwal clinched gold ahead of compatriot Avani Lekhara, while teenage archery sensation Sheetal Devi delivered a world record-equalling performance to strengthen India’s medal hopes.

The impressive results have given the Indian contingent plenty to celebrate as its athletes compete against some of Asia’s finest sporting talents.

Mona Agarwal Edges Avani Lekhara for Gold

India opened its medal account in the women’s 10-metre air rifle standing SH1 event with a remarkable one-two finish.

Mona Agarwal, who won bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, claimed the gold medal with a Games-record score of 250.0 points. She narrowly edged out two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara, who secured silver with 249.6 points — a difference of just 0.4 points. 

South Korea’s Lee Yunri completed the podium with 227.9 points. The closely contested final showcased the remarkable precision and composure of India’s shooters, with Mona producing a performance worthy of the top step of the podium.

Sheetal Devi Matches World Record

The celebrations continued in archery, where 19-year-old Sheetal Devi produced a sensational performance in the women’s compound qualification round. The archer from Jammu and Kashmir scored an incredible 704 out of 720, equalling the world record set by Türkiye’s Oznur Girdi at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Sheetal also established a new Asian record, surpassing the previous mark of 698 by six points.

Her performance featured 57 perfect 10s across 72 arrows, including 32 Xs, which landed in the target’s innermost scoring zone. A Paris Paralympics bronze medallist, Sheetal also surpassed her own Asian Para Games record of 680 points, set at Hangzhou in 2023. At that edition, she won two gold medals in the individual and mixed team events, along with a silver in doubles.

Having raised the Asian record to 698 earlier this year, she has now pushed the benchmark even higher.

Payal Makes an Impressive Debut

India’s compound archery campaign received another boost from Payal, who scored 675 points to finish fifth in the women’s qualification round. The quadruple amputee from Odisha made headlines in April after defeating Sheetal on her way to winning gold at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok.

Together, Sheetal and Payal helped India top the women’s compound team qualification standings with 1,379 points, comfortably ahead of China’s 1,338. Their strong showing secured India a direct entry into the semifinals, bringing the team a step closer to the medal round.

With gold and silver in shooting and a record-equalling display in archery, India has begun its Asian Para Games campaign on a promising note. As the elimination rounds approach, the performances of Mona, Avani, Sheetal and Payal highlight the depth of talent and determination driving India’s para-sports movement.